What started out as a hobby for Laron Taylor is now a demanding full time job. His small business, Lai Lida Cookies, is doing better than ever and Taylor says he will soon offer bake-at-home cookie dough, too.

Brooke Thiele dabbled in cake making, but it wasn't until she dropped out of college and took classes at The Wilton School of Chicago that she started taking the confectionary arts seriously. And not so seriously, too. Penis cake, anyone?

Everyone has their holiday dessert traditions. But, some go deeper than others. Take for instance, the tradition of the Bûche de Noël or Yule log, which has been observed - in one form or another - for centuries.

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When I was five years old, my younger sister and I stayed over by my aunt and uncle's house. We slept on single air mattresses. At dinner our plates had a piece of meat, potatoes and peas. Our faces turned the same vomit shade as the the vegetable. My aunt promised a special treat if we both clea...